6/15/1956 – 3/29/2026
Lawrence
Jane Kay Bacon Unruh, 69, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, March 29, 2026, after a long battle with dementia. There will be no public services held.
Jane was born in Topeka, Kansas on June 15, 1956 and spent most of her life in Douglas County, living in Baldwin City, Lecompton, and Lawrence. She took lifelong comfort in her faith. After retiring from her career at KU Athletics, Jane found joy in daily visits to the dog park with her husband and their dog, Marley.
We will miss her silly nature, her beautiful smile, and the pranks she was known to pull. She had a particular love for butterflies and wasn’t afraid to pick up the hairiest caterpillars. Jane loved her family more than anything, except maybe hot chocolate and the Beatles. She will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her doting husband, John Van Sickel; her three loving daughters: Melanie (Dustin) O’Dell, Amy Wilson, and Katarina (Logan) Isaman-Unruh; eight grandchildren: Charles (Maria Fernanda) O’Dell, McKensie O’Dell, Logan (Samantha Mays) O’Dell, Carter (Chloe Cummings) O’Dell, Aiden O’Dell, De’Shan Wilson, Lyle Carver, and Takeya Alverson; and one great grandson, Lane O’Dell.
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